transformer oil!!

[JIM S.]

I know a couple of guys, one is a dodge owner and the other a ford owner and they have been burning transformer oil in there rigs and say they get more power and milage useing it. seems like it would be just opposit of keroseen couse its a tad thicker in cosistancey, so it should lube good ..... just wondering if anyone here has heard of it!!... not sure its the smartest thing to do. so far they have had no problems. what do yall think?. Jim

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1995, 2500, 4x4, 3. 54, auto,130,000 miles, custom fuel plate, boost and EGT gauges, 215 HP injectors, RE-0880, custom 4" from down pipe.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

Are you absolutely certain they are not pulling your chain? I would need a lot more supporting evidence that it would be OK before I would attempt it in my truck! After all, people jump out of perfectly good aircraft, too.
Ray

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01 QC LWB 5 spd, trailer tow pkg, camper pkg
VA, PS boost module and elbow, PS heater saver

 

[Ethdee]

I'd worry about the PCBs before I worried about whether or not it would burn.

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James
1990 Ford 1/2 ton shortbed 4x4, 351, 4. 10 LSD

 

[CumminsPower98]

Ethdee, I am also in on possibly trying this oil as fuel. We know it burns and seems to burn great with improved power and mileage. Yesterday my cousin took on 3/4 tank of this oil in his Dodge CTD and loved the way the truck felt (more power). The only concern I would have is if it leaves ash/carbon deposits in the combustion chambers. I really hope we can find out if it's safe to burn somehow because we can get the oil for $25 per 55-gallon drum, which is cheap fuel! #ad
The other two guys who Jim S. mentioned are running it as a 50/50 mix (diesel/transformer oil).

Mark

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Red 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 Quad Cab, CTD 12 Valve, Long Bed, 5-speed, 3. 54 gears, Camper/Tow pkg, 33x12. 50x16. 5 BFG A/T's, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Tuff Country Leveling Kit, Straight Piped, K&N Air Filter, Silencer Ring Hanging in Shop, Yet to be Bombed, 70K+ Miles. My web site: www.mark74.com

 

[illflem]

It sounds like they are just charging you for the drum, they should be paying you to haul it away. I know my local power company has to pay to have it hauled off to a hazardous waste dump. I don't think PCBs are much of a concern anymore, most transformers containing it are long gone. I doubt if it is designed to be burned though, it probably leaves ash. If it works as you say go for it, might want to watch out in the winter though, it may get thicker and hard on your pump. Even if you run it in a 10% mix it would be great on the fuel bill. Sounds like the stuff would be great in a fuel oil home heater. You getting it from the power company?

 

[Max340]

I figured I'd throw this in the mix... .

Any ideas how it treats the injectors and pump as a lubricant? Thats an important thing to consider.

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Y2K 2500 QC Sport 4x4 LWB
72 Dart 340
89 LeBaron GTC 2. 2 TI

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

JEEZE, *I* would SURE want to know LOTS more about it than just that it will BURN in the diesel! Sorta like I kinda like to know more about what I stuff in my mouth than just how it TASTES... #ad


But if it IS OK stuff, where can *I* get some... ?

Keep in mind that MOST of this stuff is considered "Hazardous waste", and outfits selling it off cheap just to get rid of it, or avoiding hazardous materials disposal laws MIGHT be breaking the law - so be careful WHAT and WHERE you are buying the stuff!

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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... 108,000 trouble-free miles... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... Power Shot 2000 propane system... Mag-Hytec double deep A/T transmission pan...

MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...

[This message has been edited by Gary - KJ6Q (edited 05-13-2001). ]

 

[JohnE]

Mineral oil was the most common dielectric coolant replacement for PCB or Askarel <font size="1">(sp?)</font>. PCB usage was outlawed around 20 years ago and most was gone 15 years ago. They tried replacing the PCB with mineral oil in many pad mounted transformers only to replace them later. Turns out the PCBs saturated the paper used to separate the windings. It would slowly leach out making the PCB content in the mineral oil higher than allowed. This leached mineral oil may be the stuff they are picking up cheaply.

What kind of strain do you put on the injector pump trying to force mineral oil through the same orifices designed for fuel oil?

I'm looking for a source of vegetable oil to try bio-diesel myself. Now that diesel passed $1. 60 per gallon again and they say $2. 50 be summer?

Good luck
John E

 

[Deezul1]

Keep in mind when hearing "hazardous waste" that means just about any thing you cant take internally. In So Calif when there is a fuel spill from an accident even if its only a gallon, instead of drying it up with kitty litter or whatever the law requires a full hazmat team in full hazmat dress to clean it up so hazardous waste label can apply to just about anything .

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"so hazardous waste label can apply to just about anything . "

Which is EXACTLY my point!

Before my retirement from the local daily newspaper, I was in charge of our Hazardous waste program - it's VERY strict and structured - MANY chemicals and solutions, INCLUDING the type under discussion in this thread ARE listed and covered by hazardous waste management ruls - you CAN'T just sell or give them away and still be law abiding - PLUS, documentation HAS to be maintained showing invoices for materials RECEIVED, what is still on hand, and what has been disposed of (legally), and when and how! For instance, our used gear oils from the press were shipped from N. California clear to Texas to be consumed by a licensed power generation facility - WE were liable for ANY contaminations caused by the oil until we received a document from the generating facility showing it had been consumed.

It IS troublesome to document this hazardous stuff, and expensive to properly dispose of it in a legal manner - it actually cost MORE to dispose of our gear oil than it did to purchase it new! SO, the notion that some outfits are merely selling this stuff to anyone who comes along willing to buy it makes me sorta curious... #ad


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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... 108,000 trouble-free miles... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... Power Shot 2000 propane system... Mag-Hytec double deep A/T transmission pan...

MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...

 

[dasyure]

my fuel supplier said the diesel fuel he just put in my tank was now hazardous waste
and he couldn't by law pump it back out.
Sean

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP Sean - again, my point EXACTLY!

We used to buy small 5 gallon containers of special inks for our press - the salesman could bring the NEW, UNOPENED container to us in his car legally - BUT, if I opened the container and discovered it was the wrong ink, he could NOT legally return it to the plant because NOW it was considered "hazardous waste"...

SO, again, I am curious as to where presumably USED transformer oil is being offered for sale to folks off the street with no concern for hazardous waste regulations. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing AGAINST buying and using the stuff if it's OK for our diesels, just curious as to the origins of the oil itself...

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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... 108,000 trouble-free miles... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... Tweaked pump, upgraded radiator... Power Shot 2000 propane system... Mag-Hytec double deep A/T transmission pan...

MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

"Dura" WHAT? NOW I know where all those recycled beer cans go...

 

[jmeehan]

I'd worry about what that stuff is doing to my lungs as I burn it! I mean, the disposal plants that burn the stuff must have some sort of scrubbers for the exhaust, wouldn't you think?

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ex Ford tech, now driving Patriot Blue '01. 5 2500 4X4 QC LB ETH/DEE SLT 3. 54. Muffler, silencer ring & door badges N/A.